Please, folks, try to remember that everyone has different priorities for issues they want to see fixed, and what is eye candy for one might be game-breaking for another.

As for the 'real' Istaria, as Sephie said, it's where you find it. What Istaria offered just after launch, and what made those events so special to those that were there, was exploring the unknown.

Nobody knew what was waiting on the other side of the satyr island portals. Nobody knew what lands were going to be opened up by finishing a bridge. Nobody knew what we would face in retaking Feladan. We explored those unknowns and emerged triumphant. The problem is that each triumph removed a share of mystery from our new world. Now, there is no more unknown left to explore.

There are still triumphs to be had, but the great days of exploration and discovery are past. I think that's the Istaria you're missing, Callak. Its passing is unfortunate, but it's also inevitible.

Today's Istaria can't help but be different. We have to design for a player base that knows the world inside & out. We have to design for levels of power and speed of movement that were pipedreams at launch. We can't compete with the memories of Istaria That Was. What we can do is try to make Istaria That Is a place that's just as much fun, even if it is different.